Last year, on a patch of grass on a 10-acre complex in Rathdrum, an American record was set in the women’s hammer throw.

This year, the Iron Wood Throws Classic is going international.

Members of the Chinese national team are expected to compete in the men’s and women’s shot put and discus during the event, which celebrates its fifth year starting Friday at 2 p.m. with the women’s javelin.

“It’s really cool to have them coming here,” said Jarred Rome, coach at Bart Templeman’s Iron Wood Thrower Development Camp, held annually in the area. “It’s really an international event this year, which is cool to see.”

The event is held at the Iron Wood Throws Center located at 1620 Highway 53 in Rathdrum, on land owned by Templeman. The discus will also be contested on Friday. Saturday’s events, which begin at 1 p.m., begin with the hammer throw and conclude with the shot put.

“We’re really loaded in the men’s shot put and women’s discus this year,” said Templeman, the event organizer. “There’s going to be some really good people in there. A lot of the throwers are in Europe right now for the Diamond League, and it’s hurt us a little bit, so we’re not sure who’s going to be here yet.”

The event will feature post-collegiate throwers, as well as some college and high school athletes.

“It’s a unique thing and something that you don’t see anywhere,” Templeman said. “It’s all oriented toward the throws (events). We want it to be fun, and the kids really respond to that. The crowds clap along and get everyone jacked up. Hopefully — and I’ve got no idea what’s going to happen — but there might be another national record set.”

Last year, Deanna Price set the American record in the women’s hammer with a throw of 254 feet, 9 inches.

Gia Lewis-Smallwood, who competed in the 2012 Olympics in London, will compete in the women’s discus on Friday.

For some, it’s a destination meet according to Templeton.

“Some of the kids came up to me last year and said they’re going to bring their fishing pole and hiking gear next time,” Templeman said. “They left here saying this place is unbelievable. Some were coming from Florida and places where there’s beaches, but no mountains.”

Prize money will be awarded to post-collegiate finishers — $700 for first place, $500 for second and $300 for third.

Templeman added they will hold a raffle as well.

“Financially, we need some help,” Templeman said. “This facility is on 10 acres, and we’ve got to pay for lights, heat and we throw here both indoors and outdoors, and have taxes to pay. If we have a kid that can’t pay (for the camp and training), we’ll charge them $100 a month, which is nothing in this day and age. We’re going to raffle a 55-inch Samsung HD TV, a Husqvarna weed eater and Husqvarna snow blower, as well as a 50/50 raffle and try to get some help.”

Templeman encourages attendants to arrive early just to stay safe.

“We’d like for people to park off Ramsey Road if they could,” Templeman said. “With the hammer going on, we can’t have cars coming in because that would hazardous to your health. We don’t want to get anybody hurt, but when they throw a 15-pound hammer, it’s going 60 to 70 miles an hour coming out of their hands. I had to buy a new net this year because one of the throwers last year threw it through one net — and I’ve got two nets up — and it went through the other one. To keep everyone safe, it just had to be done.”

“Our mission statement is to give an opportunity to not just have another competition, but to give prize money to aid in their development and training,” said Rome, who is also the throws coach at Boston University. “Unless you’re one of the top sprinters, you’re working one or two jobs and training on your free time. In other countries, they’re government funded. In this country, it’s not like that. Our goal is to give people a chance to compete against Olympians. It’s a chance to develop the future and giving the high school kids a chance to be around them.”